Building a series

As I finish the second book in my new series, The Circle Eight, I think about all the bits and parts that go into building a series. When I conceived the series along with my editor, Alicia Condon, I focused in on the family in the series.

Many of my books, and series, revolve around families. Some of them are traditional, while others are clearly nontraditional. It’s the feelings and love within that “family” that’s important.

The Circle Eight is about the Graham family, eight siblings born to parents who loved each other dearly. This is also a new time period, the Republic of Texas, and allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to test how far I can go. It appears I can go rather far.

The first book in the series, Matthew, is being released in February 2012 (yay!) and I should have cover art soon (oh boy oh boy!). He is the oldest and the one who has to keep the family together after tragedy strikes and their parents are brutally murdered, the youngest sibling kidnapped.

It’s a harsh world and I did not pull any punches as to the difficulty this family faces. They work together, and sometimes apart when they bicker, but in the end, it’s the family that’s important.

As I wrote Matthew’s story, I was already planting the seeds for book 2, Beverly. She is the oldest sister and a muleheaded, outspoken and obstinate woman. Although she is unlikeable in parts of Matthew’s book, she softens and you get a glimpse of the real woman behind the mask she wears.

I love planting those seeds and hearing from readers who see the tiny sprout growing and ask me, “when is her book coming out?”. The characters become real to me as anyone I know and my investment includes my heart and my mind.

I’m excited to begin a new adventure with The Circle Eight. Can’t wait to share it y’all!